'The pin-striped men of morning,
The partners in the dance,
The paper's shot to pieces,
The kids don't stand a chance.'
-The Kids Don't Stand a Chance, Vampire Weekend
Sam was sat outside the fire station on the kerb; Quinn and Edilio were behind him kicking a tennis ball to each other. Well, Quinn was kicking it and laughing as Edilio attempted to stop the ball from flying off into the distance. It seemed there was one thing the little Mexican boy couldn't do, and Quinn was taking full advantage of this.
Sam frowned as he noticed Drake walked down the street, Panda beside him. They were both carrying the infamous steel bars but in his other hand Drake was holding a leash and on the end of the silver chain there was a huge grey dog.
'That's worrying.' Someone suddenly muttered and Sam jumped, turning his head to see Astrid sat beside him, her eyes narrowed at Drake and the mysterious dog.
'What? The dog?' Sam asked her.
Astrid shook her head. 'It isn't a dog it's a wolf. How on Earth he got it to be that tame is beyond me.'
'You mean you don't know?' Sam smirked and Astrid hit him playfully on the arm, chuckling.
Beth walked slowly behind Drake; the collar was loose around her neck, bouncing irritably against her collarbone. He had told her not to talk; in fact, she wasn't allowed to do anything except what he told her unless she wanted to feel that steel bar. She told herself it was that which kept her in line but really she was scared of Drake with or without the bar. He had already proved he could make her do what he wanted, he was the scariest person she had ever met and she had met her fair share of scary people in her time. That boy with the funny rings around his eyes had joined them. She discovered his name was Panda after some intense listening. He didn't seem as scared of her now she was with Drake, now she was leashed up and unable to attack.
The little procession came to a halt and Beth blinked, glancing up. Both boys were looking down at her, a knowing smile was on Panda's face and Drake was halfway between frowning and smirking.
'Turn into a wolf.' He said suddenly, tugging on the leash. Beth staggered forward, blinking rapidly. She almost ran right into his chest, which would have not been good.
'She can do it,' Panda piped up. 'I saw her.'
'Yes, we all saw, moron.' Drake scowled and lifted the bar up. 'Do it.' He snarled.
Beth almost shook her head, almost; with a shudder she closed her eyes and focused her mind. She could feel her body changing smoothly, fur growing along her skin, her body lengthened, claws shooting out of her fingers. When she opened her eyes, Drake was grinning and Panda was smiling knowingly.
'Told you,' he said but Drake wasn't listening. He yanked on the leash, holding it tight so Beth yelped in pain, stumbling after him.
'She's gotta learn,' Drake explained without Panda having to ask. 'Beat on her a bit, she'll get tougher, like a police dog.'
'Won't you have to train her, then?' Panda questioned and Drake smirked.
'Exactly.'
Orc and Howard were sauntering around, looking for anything out of place. They both loved the newfound power and were ready to use it to full extent. Aluminium bats were twirled around as they walked in a companionable silence. A shout alerted their attention and both turned, looking at the shop which stood just across the street. A child, no more than seven years old was running out of the shop, a packet of cookies clutched to his chest. The guard at that time, Mallet, was stood at the entrance to the shop, hands on his knees as he panted for breath.
'What're you doing?' Howard cried, jogging up to the boy.
'I just ran round the shop at least twenty times after the little shit,' Mallet protested. 'You get him!'
In the end it was Orc who ended up getting the little boy, despite his size he was surprisingly useful. In his hurry, the boy had run straight into the bulk that made up Orc's belly and he had fallen back onto the ground, cookies scattered around him. He tried to get up and run the other way but Howard got the kid's shoulders and held them tightly. Sneering down at the frightened little boy. The boy wasn't fazed though and kicked Howard hard in the shin, he howled in pain, releasing the boy who proceeded to scamper down the street.
'Mallet,' Howard gasped but Mallet wasn't fast enough.
All of a sudden a silver shape streaked past Howard, bounding after the boy. Drake appeared, the chain leash hanging from his hand loosely as he smirked after the wolf.
'Drake, the kid – took cookies!' Howard stammered, his eyes darting between the wolf and its owner.
'Chill, Howard, she's got it covered.' Drake rolled his eyes and carried on walking, Panda following close behind.
The wolf leapt, its shadow passing over the boy, and landed with a skid in front of him. He screamed shrilly at the sight of the snarling animal and tried to turn the other way but Drake and Panda were there, steel bars in hand. The boy promptly burst into tears trying to go this way and that but the wolf was closing in and Drake showed no sign of calling her off.
A crowd had slowly gathered now, just a couple of people, scared but interested at the same time. They didn't get too close though, the wolf's teeth were visible now, her eyes ferocious and wild. There was a shout and the crowd shifted, Sam barging through followed by Astrid and Edilio, and Quinn lingered behind them.
'What's going on?' Sam demanded, looking worriedly between the wolf and the little boy, who was full on wailing now.
'He broke the rules.' Drake answered, grinning.
'He's seven years old!' Astrid protested.
'So? Would you like to take his punishment?' He raised an eyebrow.
'Caine can't be allowing this,' Sam shook his head. 'Call the wolf off, Drake.'
Drake shrugged. 'What makes you think I control it?'
That was it for Edilio, he lunged for the closest person possible, this being Panda. The two went rolling over each other, punching and kicking. The baseball bat Panda had been holding lay in the dirt, forgotten. Drake made no move to stop the fight, his eyes were trained on the wolf, and the animal was staring at the little boy with cruel intentions, its hackles raised, muscles tense and ready. It's ears twitching, listening intently for Drake's command.
Mary pushed through the crowd, her eyes wide and searching. 'Tom!' She suddenly called, dropping to her knees and holding her arms out. The little boy rushed to her and she enveloped him in a hug, but at this sudden movement the wolf lunged, jaws open and snapping.
Mary screamed and jumped backwards from the furious animal. Its strong jaws wrapped around her leg, tugging her back, tearing through the delicate skin. She shrieked in pain, kicking desperately at the wolf's muzzle when suddenly the steel bar came down through the air with a whoosh, slamming right onto the wolf's back. It howled in pain, backing away from Mary instantly. It was hit again, across its muzzle and it fell to the ground, panting heavily.
Drake was glaring down at the wolf before he turned his gaze to Mary who sobbed into the ground. 'If he does it again, he's dead.' He growled threateningly and she nodded frantically, hugging Tom closer to her.
It seemed the entertainment had come to an end and the crowd dispersed, chattering noisily. Mary was slowly helped away by a shaking Dhara and Elwood, who had arrived to see what all the noise was about. Edilio was dragged away from Panda by Sam and now it was just them left, the wolf lay between them, panting raggedly.
'It could have killed her, Drake.' Sam said, pointing at the wolf.
'I don't think so,' Drake smirked. 'Get up.' He said, looking down at the animal. It coughed, snarling slightly before heaving itself up onto its paws and standing close to Drake. 'See? It belongs to me, I'm it's Master.' He added proudly.
Astrid shook her head. 'You can't keep a wild animal, one day it'll turn on you.'
Drake's smirk only seemed to get bigger and without a word he tapped the wolf on its shoulder with his steel bar. It grunted and backed away slightly before it closed its eyes. The fur disappeared and was replaced with scruffy clothes and soon enough Beth was back, looking even more defeated than earlier. Her eyes were sad and dull; her movements limp as if someone had taken the life from her. Astrid had no doubt that someone was Drake, judging by the way she reacted to the steel bar.
'Is it…the power?' Edilio asked, amazed by it all.
'Who cares?' Drake answered flatly. He looked at Sam. 'Shouldn't you be fighting fire?' He grinned, resting the steel bar against his shoulder.
Sam looked at Beth, a frown crossing his features before he shook his head and turned, walking away down the street. Drake watched them go before he turned and glared down at Beth, anger flashing across his handsome face.
'What was that?' He snarled, pushing her hard in her shoulder. Beth stumbled backwards, yellow eyes wide.
'I-I didn't-,' she stammered but Drake merely rolled his eyes.
'Shut up,' he ordered and Beth's jaw snapped shut obediently.
